Latest News

Renowned Animator Hayao Miyazaki Retiring

Studio Ghibli. Reports from a press conference at the Venice Film Festival (via Japan Times) are stating that The Wind Rises will be the last film directed by legendary animator/filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki before he retires. The quote comes from Studio Ghibli co-founder Koji Hoshino, who said simply during the press conference: "Miyazaki has decided that The Wind Rises will be his last film and he will now retire." More details will come at a press conference in Japan next week, but for now it sounds like this isn't just a speculative quote.

Hayao Miyazaki, now 72 years old, is the legendary Japanese animator who some could argue is the greatest animation filmmaker in cinema history. In total he has directed 12 feature films from My Neighbor Totoro to Ponyo, won one Oscar for Spirited Away in 2003, and received countless accolades. His last film, The Wind Rises about the WWII Zero Fighter airplane designer Jiro Horikoshi, is premiering at film festivals around the world right now and debuting in Japan this year. The quote seems to hint that Miyazaki decided this latest film would be his last feature after finishing.